FIRE LOSS OP £12,000.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1726, 17 April 1913, Page 4

FIRE LOSS OP £12,000.

MILL & PLANT BURNT.

HEAT BURSTS WATER MAINS. (By Tolccrapli.-Prosa Association.) Taihapc, April 16. A fire at Gammnn's sawmill, Ohakuiw East, broke out at 9.20 last night. All employee passed the mill earlier, and all appeared right, but ten minutes later 110 •saw a glare, and raised the alarm. Employees and other residents quickly mustered, and made strenuous efforts to cope with the outbreak, but the fire spread rapidly, and the heat was m intense that it caused the 4in. water supply pipes to burst, and the hose was burnt through almost as soon as it got goin?.' It was soon scon that the mill was doomed, and efforts were directed to saving the adjacent buildings and timber in tho yards. The assistance of tho Ohakuno Brigade was of great service in this respect. Tho combined efforts wcro successful, and the locomotive shed, box factory, and moulding shed were saved, also a largo portion of the limber in the drying shed, where about Ihrco tons of timber were stored. The mill and the machinery therein were totally destroyed. It was found necessary to tear tho iron off the roofs of tho sheds, so as to facilitate tlio 'efforts of tho bucket and fire brigades, both of which were doing splendid work. Tho only machinery saved in tho null was a Pacific Coast bench, which was badly scorched. Had not the intense leat put tho water supply out of action the progress of tho fire. would doubtless liavo recn arrested.

The insurances on tlio mill and timber amounted to ,£9OOO in tho Norwich Union, and the loss is estimated at over Ninety men have been thrown out of work. Both proprietors of tho mill were absent, one at Tauranga. and the other fn Xaranalii. The latter is cxpccted to arrive I o-day. Tlio mill lias lately been going at full work, in consequence of tho improved trade, hence the largo stocks of timber ill tho yards. It was' one of the largest aiijj best-equipped mills in the Dominion. lho lire originated near ono of the boilers, and the cause of origin is a mystery.